mayonnaise question

[ny biker]

I buy Hellmans in a jar, which comes with a plastic lid. There is no plastic shrink wrap over the lid and no plastic or foil seal inside it. I buy it when it's on sale so it sits in my pantry until I need it, at which point I open the lid (breaking the seal between the part that comes off and the thin ring that stays around the neck of the jar). After that I refrigerate it. I've been doing this for years and have never had a problem -- smells fine, tastes fine, does not make me sick. I just make sure to open it before the sell-by date on the label.

[badger]

I buy Hellmans in a jar, which comes with a plastic lid. There is no plastic shrink wrap over the lid and no plastic or foil seal inside it. I buy it when it's on sale so it sits in my pantry until I need it, at which point I open the lid (breaking the seal between the part that comes off and the thin ring that stays around the neck of the jar). After that I refrigerate it. I've been doing this for years and have never had a problem -- smells fine, tastes fine, does not make me sick. I just make sure to open it before the sell-by date on the label.

I know!! I recall that from my previous jars when I was pondering about this particular one. How does it stay "fresh" when it's not air-tight??

[OakLeaf]

Just like cheese in plastic wrap or spices in plastic bottles (including glass bottles with plastic caps) - it's vacuum packed and stays fresh for a limited period of time, until airborne contaminants and/or moisture reach a certain level.

Or a natural example, eggs or nuts in their shells, for that matter.

[malkin]

And the reason to refrigerate after opening is that the cool temperatures keep the cooties from reproducing as quickly. You'll still get a few cooties, but not so many as to make you sick (usually).

[FunSize]

There are some mayonaises that dont even say they need to be refrigerated after opening. They would have these out on the tables at my college cafeteria. I was weirded out by it too. I just figured it was probably preserved enough to be fine. I only made a couple of sandwiches and no food poisoning. Also.... I think it was hellmans... or dukes... in a squeeze, upside down bottle.

[Possegal]

Mayo isn't as 'dangerous' as some people seem to think. That reputation comes from homemade mayo and the raw egg in it. Commercial mayo has pasteurized egg in it and then the oil/water composition and pH of the commercial mayo actually do not support microbial growth very well. Not that you still shouldn't refrigerate after opening or anything. I just notice that mayo seems to get singled out as the worrisome product and commercial mayo really isn't. I seem to have this conversation with my brother every family picnic.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...9/ai_66881140/

[ny biker]

I once read that the real problem is when you add protein to it -- eggs, chicken, etc. That is when it is most important to keep it refrigerated.